Manila Standard, May 14, 2009 Issue

‘Sabungero.’ The World Slasher Cup 8-Cock International Derby at the Araneta Coliseum features the world’s top breeders and resumes today with more than 80 matches lined up. The tournament is also the site of the major scenes of ‘Sabungero’, the first full-length feature on the Filipino sport of cockfighting, set for premiere exhibition at the Cinemalaya Film Festival in July. LINO SANTOS

The Philippine Star, Entertainment Section May 12, 2009

First-time filmmakers meet heavyweight actors in Sabungero: Dangal at Tibay, set to premiere in July.

Directed by Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Delgado, Sabungero features Joel Torre, Ricky Davao, Mark Gil, Nonie Buencamino, Robert Arevalo, Leo Martinez, Maritoni Fernandez and Sid Lucero.

Joel plays Paco, an ordinary man blessed with the uncanny gift of breeding, raising and fighting gamecocks. He gets caught up in gambling, and loses everything he has, including his family. He works to get his life back on track, and has one chance left to prove himself to his family and friends: The World Slasher Cup International Derby at the Araneta Coliseum.

Sabungero, produced by Rooster Content Online (creator of No. 1 cockfighting website on the Internet, sabong.com.ph), is the first full-length feature on the Filipino sport of cockfighting.

According to executive producer JC Bernardo, Sabungero paints a realistic picture of cockfighting in the Philippines, where sabong has been part of local culture and heritage, and is a hobby for 6-M registered sabungeros and several million more.
The theme is realistic as well — so many sabungeros have gone through this sort of experience, and even the average Filipino can relate to this because it’s a situation nobody wants to get caught up in.

Co-directors Kaimo and Delgado admit to initial intimidation working with such an esteemed cast, but quickly got over it, as the actors’ veteran experience proved to be invaluable in the creation of the film.

“Our priority for now is a nationwide release. We plan to take Sabungero to the provincial theaters, especially in places where sabong is popular. We are also looking forward to joining film festivals abroad,” Bernardo concludes.

YES! Magazine April, 2009

What goes on in the life of a man whose calling is the blood sport of cockfighting? Sabungero, a docudrama about the trials and tribulations of a cockfighting aficionado, hopes to answer that question.

“There are millions of Filipinos living and breathing sabong,” says director Rozie Delgado. “It’s been a part of our culture for centuries. It’s very Filipino, and yet there are hardly any films about it.

Direk Rozie say si t was the film’s producer, JC Bernardo, who had the idea of making a movie about cockfighting. “He is also a sabungero, and he realized that there are a lot of misconceptions about sabong,” she says.

As part of her pre-production research, Direk Rozie says she visited “countless” cockfighting arenas and farms and met with many sabungeros who introduced her to various breeds of fighting cocks. “I was surprised,” she says, “by the whole culture of sabong – the lifestyle of sabungeros, their lingo, and their passion for the sport.”

Sabungero is the first full-length film by Direk Rozie, whose previous works have been shorts and music videos. Co-director Miguel Kaimo and screenwriter Luz Inociain are likewise first-timers. The film, scheduled for release in the last quarter of 2009, stars Joel Torre, Ricky Davao, Noni Buencamino, Leo Martinez, Sid Lucero, Maritoni Fernandez, and Robert Arevalo.

Joel Torre - Paco

Maritoni Fernandez - Karen

Leo Martinez - Congressman

Noni Buencamino - Badong

Robert Arevalo - Tatang

Ricky Davao - Carlo

Sid Lucero - Enzo

Edwin Nombre - Berting

Lesley Martinez - Mai-Mai

Here is a fan art for the upcoming movie “Sabungero” culled from production photos and embellished with sounds and music.

It’s the month of May and we have the final days of shooting for the Sabungero film. The location will include World Slasher Cup 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum, as such expect world class cockfighting footage to included in our movie feature.